Intellectuals decry Indo-US nuclear deal
On the eve of the Vote of Confidence, several noted economists, academicians and intellectuals attacked the government for "rushing headlong" into the Indo-US nuclear deal with an "disingenuous" justification.
By PTI |
NEW DELHI: On the eve of the Vote of Confidence, several noted economists, academicians and intellectuals today attacked the government for "rushing headlong" into the Indo-US nuclear deal with an "disingenuous" justification and appealed to MPs to prevent it.
In a joint statement, they alleged that the government was pushing "the major decision (of nuclear deal) affecting the country's future energy and foreign policy" despite "enjoying only minority support, evidently in order to meet the US President's time-frame."
They contended that during the "only discussion" on the nuclear deal in the Lok Sabha, "a majority of MPs were clearly against it. The confidence vote on July 21 cannot be for obvious reasons be construed as a vote on the deal."
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's statement about the deal "means very little", they said, adding "the mendacity that has marked this decision adds to our fears."
They insisted that the deal would not enhance the country's interests as has been claimed by the government.
In the statement, they appealed to the MPs to "exert pressure on the government not to rush headlong into this deal" and sought "a wider and more honest debate on all relevant issues, so that the people can properly decide what is good for the country and its future."
The authors of the statement include noted economist Ashok Mitra, former union power secretary E A S Sharma, former director with the Department of Atomic Energy Dr A D Damodaran, noted media activist Aruna Roy.
In a joint statement, they alleged that the government was pushing "the major decision (of nuclear deal) affecting the country's future energy and foreign policy" despite "enjoying only minority support, evidently in order to meet the US President's time-frame."
They contended that during the "only discussion" on the nuclear deal in the Lok Sabha, "a majority of MPs were clearly against it. The confidence vote on July 21 cannot be for obvious reasons be construed as a vote on the deal."
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's statement about the deal "means very little", they said, adding "the mendacity that has marked this decision adds to our fears."
They insisted that the deal would not enhance the country's interests as has been claimed by the government.
In the statement, they appealed to the MPs to "exert pressure on the government not to rush headlong into this deal" and sought "a wider and more honest debate on all relevant issues, so that the people can properly decide what is good for the country and its future."
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The authors of the statement include noted economist Ashok Mitra, former union power secretary E A S Sharma, former director with the Department of Atomic Energy Dr A D Damodaran, noted media activist Aruna Roy.
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